NJC suspends three judges for a year without pay

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judges in Nasarawa, Jigawa and Rivers states for one year without pay over their handling of court cases.

The council announced the suspensions on Wednesday after its Tuesday meeting chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

Two of the judges, Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court and Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court, were also barred from elevation for three years.

The council said Kabir ordered a litigant detained for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings. Its investigation committee found that the arrest and detention breached the litigant’s right to a fair hearing.

Biambo was sanctioned after ordering arrests and imposing N300,000 fines on each of the petitioners in a civil dispute without following contempt procedures, the council said.

Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal was suspended for his role in reopening a judgement delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court. The council said he exceeded his authority by setting up a review committee and assigning the matter to another judge, who took fresh evidence and delivered another judgement.

The NJC directed the most senior kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal to perform the grand kadi’s duties during Salihu’s suspension.

Sources: NJC announcement; Premium Times; Punch